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Movie: Sideways
Starring Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen Directed By Alexander Payne Written By Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes
Miles is a schoolteacher, aspiring writer, divorcee and wine lover. He's shopping his Great American Novel around, but it isn't going well. Worse his can't get over his funk after two years of divorce. Relentlessly depressed, his only hope in life is to find the perfect Pinot Noir.
Actually, he's not a complete basket case; he's agreed to take Jack, his gregarious college roommate who became an actor, up the California coast on a weeklong tour of wineries and golf courses before he gets married. Jack, however, really doesn't look forward to getting tied down and wants to get himself and his friend laid in one last wild fling.
This could have been a Woody Allen film, in a West Coast sort of way, which is a big compliment to Director Alexander Payne. In addition to including lots footage of vineyards and plenty of factoids about wine he's pulled very believable performances out of his cast, especially Paul Giamatti as the obsessive Miles, most famous for last year's American Splendor. Thomas Haden Church does a take on his own life in a way, since he played in the TV series' Wings and Ned and Stacy, which is to say he's perfectly cast as a womanizer with a few bit parts to his credit. Sandra Oh is best known for her long running role in HBO's Arliss and is very fetching as Jack's squeeze-for-a-day, but it's Virgina Madsen who steals most every scene she's in. One wonders what she sees in Miles, though.
I like Sideways a lot, but I am not overwhelmed by it. Based on Rex Pickett's novel, it's certainly a good story and very well acted, but I guess I have trouble warming up much for two self-destructive people. But then it's about breaking out of that kind of trap, isn't it?
This is the sort of movie that professional critics love, some have even called it "brilliant," but others may call it A Trip To The Whine Country. Still, Sideways has genuinely funny moments, especially the hilariously heroic way Miles recovers Jack's wedding rings. Maybe I like it more than I know, it just takes awhile to get used to the flavor.
The Skinny:
Did I enjoy the movie? It has a complex aftertaste, a little bittersweet with rich local color and highlights, but drink enough and it will make you laugh
Would I go to see it again? I wouldn't get a case of it for my wine rack, but if someone opened another bottle I'd probably drink it
© 2004 - Rusty Pipes